Go Long Beach smartphone app helps city pinpoint and fix problems

The city of Long Beach's smartphone app has processed 22,685 service requests since its launch two years ago, with a 97 percent closure rate, according to officials.

Go Long Beach, launched in October 2010 and proposed by Vice Mayor Robert Garcia, allows community members to report problems such as potholes, graffiti, sidewalk damage and other service needs to the city. Users upload a picture of the problem through the application, reporting the location of the issue with GPS tracking technology.

Mayor Bob Foster said in a statement that the tool is an example of the city's effective use of new technology.

According to the city, the most common request is graffiti removal, with 9,724 requests. Illegally dumped items was second at 3,605, followed by potholes with 1,976, street sign damage at 1,892 and sidewalk damage with 1,273.

Android users can download the Go Long Beach app from Google Play, and iPhone users can download the software from the App Store. BlackBerry users can access the service at www.golbcity.com.